Will a new Government lead to a fresh take on Driver CPC? With so many big projects announced in the Kings Speech, it may not be at the top of their inbox just now, but our new Transport Minister, Louise Haigh, will need to pick it up before long.
Proposals were published under the previous Government, following an extensive consultation in 2023. Since these were broadly welcomed by the logistics industry, it’s probably fair to assume that most of what has already been announced will come to pass. It is certainly the case that Driver CPC is here to stay, albeit with a number of reforms. The impending September deadline, at the end of the most recent “five-year” cycle is very real.
The current proposals include a distinction between a Driver CPC for those who want to drive professionally in both the UK and the EU, which will be labelled the “International Driver CPC” and a new, more flexible “National Driver CPC” for those who will only every be driving in the UK.
Due to the need for alignment between EU and UK rules, those needing an International entitlement will see no significant changes – courses must be 7 hours long, and drivers must complete 35 hours of training every five years.
The updated approach will come with the National Driver CPC, and include many ideas that were enthusiastically advocated during the consultation. For example, whilst there will still be a requirement for 35 hours overall, courses would be able to be shorter – just a half day at a time (3.5 hours). There would also be greater freedom to include e-learning as part of the qualification, and split courses would not need to be completed on consecutive days.
It will also become easier to get back into driving, with the current option (complete 35 hours) still available but also a new “return to driving” module available for those whose entitlement expired less than two years ago. This would last just 7 hours, followed by a further 28 hours of National or International Driver CPC training to be completed within 12 months.
If the Labour Government does want to go further with the reforms, they might push for the addition of a Driver CPC theory test, floated by the previous administration. This is subject to a consultation process but would provide a further option for people who do not want to take the full 35 hours’ training.
“From a professionalism and road safety perspective we’ve always viewed Driver CPC as great for the industry,” says Driver Hire Training’s John Keelan-Edwards. “We also support the suggested changes, which make Driver CPC more flexible and relevant to drivers. We’ll be ready to provide whatever training drivers need. And, with the ongoing tight labour market for drivers, the new return to driving approach makes sense too. As for the theory test, that’s a wait and see right now.”
As with so many areas of public life, there is certainly a lot for our new Government to get its teeth into.
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